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Spring 2023
cementing in the fiber weed guard. You will also need high- temperature silicone pins to place in the weed guard hole during the painting and baking process, so the powder coat paint won’t fill in the hole. And of course, you will need fiber weed guards and epoxy or gel super glue to anchor the weed guards in place. Both types of pins are available from lure- making websites as are the fiber weed guards.
Other supplies include pliers, metal files, and side- cutting pliers. Build a simple rack made from an aluminum roasting pan with cross rails made from wire coat hangers to hang the jigs.
POURING LEAD
First, place your mold on top of your melting pot to heat it up. This keeps the molten lead from hardening before fully filling the mold cavities. I also pour lead without hooks in the mold several times to make sure it is fully heated inside. Place your hooks (and metal pin for weedless models) in the mold and close it. Make sure it is fully closed. Hold the mold opening close to the melting pot spout (about a quarter inch below the spout) and quickly pour lead into the center of the mold opening. After about 10 or more seconds open the mold and remove the jigs. Break off the sprue from the jig head by grasping it with pliers and rocking the jig back and forth until it breaks off. You can then file off any excess
to smooth the head before painting. You can also use side- cutters to remove the sprue, but it takes more time to file the head smooth.
PAINTING JIGS
For a lasting chip-resistant paint job you cannot do better than using powder paint. I use Pro-Tec powder paint which is available at most better tackle stores or online and comes in great color options. There is no more efficient or better way to apply the paint than heating your unfinished jigs or weight, and then dipping it into powder paint. The heated lead melts the powder paint to thinly coat the lead, and then you place it into an oven and bake the paint for 15 minutes at 350 degrees to cure the paint. This hardens the paint to be very chip resistant so even rocks will not remove the paint.
MAKE A FLUID BED
A quick search on the internet will reveal commercially made “fluid beds” for powder painting used to make painting simple. The video in this article shows how to build your own “fluid bed.” With a few PVC pipe supplies from your local hardware store and a small aquarium pump with airline and flow control valve, you can make your own for a fraction of the cost.
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